white-collar

adjective

white-col·​lar ˈ(h)wīt-ˈkä-lər How to pronounce white-collar (audio)
: of, relating to, or constituting the class of salaried employees whose duties do not call for the wearing of work clothes or protective clothing compare blue-collar

Examples of white-collar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For white-collar crime, that means putting more rich (white) guys in prison. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026 In a satiric short video, Rabid Dogs, 2002, for example, white-collar workers dress upas rapacious canines, clutching Burberry bags in their mouths and traversing cubicles on all fours. — Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 The trend comes as the use of AI has grown from a tech-employee specialty to a nearly ubiquitous pursuit among white-collar workers — and as overall inflation in the economy has remained stubborn. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 There’s the end of the streaming wars on TV and tightening of budgets and changing of models, as well as corporate consolidation and the specter of AI eliminating white-collar work of all kinds. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for white-collar

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white-collar was in 1911

Rhymes for white-collar

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Browse Nearby Words

white cohosh
white-collar
white-collar crime
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Cite this Entry

“White-collar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-collar. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

white-collar

adjective
ˈhwīt-ˈkäl-ər, 
ˈwīt-
: of, relating to, or being a member of the class of workers (as clerks and salespersons) whose duties do not require the wearing of work clothes
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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